Why did Johanan propose to kill Ishmael in Jeremiah 40:15? The Setting: Aftermath of Jerusalem’s Fall • Babylon has razed Jerusalem (Jeremiah 39:1-10). • Nebuchadnezzar appoints Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the remaining Judeans (Jeremiah 40:5-6). • Survivors gather at Mizpah, hoping for stability under Babylonian oversight (Jeremiah 40:11-12). Ishmael Introduced: A Royal-Blooded Malcontent • Ishmael son of Nethaniah is “of the royal family” (Jeremiah 41:1). • His lineage gives him a personal claim to leadership and a motive to resent Gedaliah’s Babylon-backed authority. • Earlier, Baalis king of the Ammonites secretly recruits Ishmael for an assassination plot (Jeremiah 40:14). Johanan’s Discovery • Johanan son of Kareah, leader of other army officers, learns of the conspiracy: “Ishmael son of Nethaniah is coming to kill you” (Jeremiah 40:14). • Johanan quietly approaches Gedaliah to warn him—yet Gedaliah refuses to believe it (Jeremiah 40:14). Why Johanan Proposed to Kill Ishmael (Jeremiah 40:15) “Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah, saying, ‘Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah, for he is inciting trouble and seeking your life.’ ” Johanan’s motives, drawn from the text and surrounding context, are clear: 1. Protection of Gedaliah’s Life – Ishmael’s target is Gedaliah personally: “seeking your life.” – The governor’s assassination would be a direct blow to what little civic order remains. 2. Prevention of National Disaster – Johanan foresees Babylon’s likely reaction: if their appointed governor dies, they will assume rebellion (cf. 2 Kings 25:24-25). – Retaliation could mean further slaughter or deportation of the remnant (Jeremiah 41:17-18). 3. Defense against Ammonite Intrigue – The plot comes “at the instigation of Baalis the king of the Ammonites” (Jeremiah 40:14). – Stopping Ishmael blocks foreign manipulation that threatens Judah’s already fragile autonomy. 4. Preservation of God-Given Opportunity – Through Jeremiah, the Lord had promised blessing if the remnant stayed in the land under Babylonian rule (Jeremiah 40:9-10; 42:10-12). – Ishmael’s violence would jeopardize the very conditions in which that promise could be realized. Gedaliah’s Refusal and the Tragic Result • Gedaliah, trusting Ishmael, forbids Johanan’s preemptive strike (Jeremiah 40:16). • Ishmael murders Gedaliah and many others (Jeremiah 41:2-7). • Fear of Babylonian reprisal drives the remnant toward Egypt in disobedience to God’s command (Jeremiah 43:1-7). Takeaways for Today • Righteous vigilance: Knowing evil plans obligates God’s people to act wisely (Proverbs 27:12). • The cost of misplaced trust: Gedaliah’s naïveté contrasts with Johanan’s realistic assessment (Matthew 10:16). • Consequences of ignoring divine counsel: The remnant’s flight to Egypt stems from rejecting God’s warning (Jeremiah 42:19-22). |
    |